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Astronomy & Astrophysics Advisory Committee (AAAC) 12 October 2006

Astronomy & Astrophysics Advisory Committee (AAAC) 12 October 2006. Astronomy and Astrophysics in Antarctica. Scott Borg Head, Antarctic Sciences Section Office of Polar Programs National Science Foundation. Antarctic Sciences Section. USAP is a microcosm of NSF many flavors of science

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Astronomy & Astrophysics Advisory Committee (AAAC) 12 October 2006

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  1. Astronomy & Astrophysics Advisory Committee (AAAC)12 October 2006 Astronomy and Astrophysics in Antarctica Scott Borg Head, Antarctic Sciences Section Office of Polar Programs National Science Foundation

  2. Antarctic Sciences Section • USAP is a microcosm of NSF • many flavors of science • “research that can only be done, or can be best done, in Antarctica” • A & A is part of one of five diverse science programs • LDB w/NASA at McMurdo • South Pole Station supports several telescopes • high competition for resources at Pole

  3. Antarctic Research Pathways • OPP general announcement • and/or joint consideration with other parts of NSF • International Polar Year • NSF Cross Directorate Opportunities • Science and Technology Centers Competition • Major Research Instrumentation • Cyber-infrastructure opportunities • Partnerships with other agencies or foreign Antarctic programs

  4. US Antarctic Program - Research • Complex portfolio of research • Single investigator to multi-institution collaborations • Many science partnerships: within NSF, with other agencies, with other countries • Extensive support infrastructure, but long and complex logistics train • Many support partnerships: DoD for logistics & transportation, NASA for communications

  5. Current and Planned USAP Astrophysics Activities • Long Duration Ballooning (through 2009) • Pilot support for 3 flights in FY07 • Recent Balzan prize for Boomerang work • BICEP - Background Imaging of Cosmic Extragalactic Polarization (2005-2008) • QUaD - QUEST and DASI Experiment (2005-2007) • 10m South Pole Telescope - submillimeter surveys of SZE clusters, polarization, etc. (first light in 2007) • IceCube – km3 neutrino observatory (2004-2010)

  6. Major Projects at Pole – FY07 • IceCube - 9 strings in; 12 planned for 06/07; plus IceTop • 06/07 is a critical year for the construction project • plans in development for transition to M&O • 10m South Pole Telescope – SPT • Test-build successful; transport, build, and commission in 06/07 • First light in 07 winter; but no ground shield (planned 07/08) • South Pole Station Modernization – not finished yet • **completion delayed following extensive readiness review of the science programs in July-August 2006

  7. Challenges • USAP Support for Pole is at limit • Berths/cargo/power/water/general utilities • Recent major review of power usage > stable plan for short term • Traverse plans advancing • Communications • SPTR Phase 1 – plans in place for completion for winter 07 • SPTR Phase 2 – plans developed for execute/completion in 09 • Critical dependence on NASA partnership • South Pole Station Modernization – need to complete

  8. Questions?

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